Punched tape controlled card puncher

ABSTRACT

A card punching arrangement in which information stored on punched tape is transferred to lines of a card punched by a card puncher. Signals from a tape reader are applied to a coding circuit for translating the code from the tape into a code suitable for recording on the card. A counter with forward and reverse counting features is connected to a card puncher by way of a programmable selector in the form of a plug board to facilitate variation in the program. The information stored on the tape and recorded on card stock may include all of the symbols found on the conventional keyboard of a typewriter.

United States Patent Ritzerfeld 1 June 27, 1972 [54] PUNCHED TAPE CONTROLLED CARD PUNCHER [72] lnventor: Gerhard Rlturfeld, Schorlemer Allee 14,

Berlin-Dahlem, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 109,810

Related U.S. Applicatlon Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 842,958, June 18, 1969, Pat. No.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 19, 1969 Germany ..P 17 74 580.1

[52] 11.8. CI. ..234/36, 234/69 [51] Int. Cl. ..G06k l/18, (106k 1/22 [58] Field of Search ..234/36, 69; 197/20 s n u o e e o a n a a e e e [56] References Cited Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A card punching arrangement in which information stored on punched tape is transferred to lines of a card punched by a card puncher. Signals from a tape reader are applied to a coding circuit for translating the code from the tape into a code suitable for recording on the card. A counter with forward and reverse counting features is connected to a card puncher by way of a programmable selector in the form of a plug board to facilitate variation in the program. The information stored on the tape and recorded on card stock may include all of the symbols found on the conventional keyboard of a typewriter.

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In re [0r 63- 0401 12/7204 PM} PUNCHED TAPE CONTROLLED CARD PUNCHER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a Divisional Application of Ser. No. 842,958, filed July 18, 1969, entitled Punched Tape Controlled Card Puncher, now US. Pat. No. 3,630,433.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in a card punching machine which is controlled from punched tape, a tape reader, or a tape punch. A coding arrangement translates the code of the tape to a code for use in punching cards or sheet-type recording mediums.

Card punching machines are known in the art, which are controlled from punched tapes, and which transfer the code on a tape, in a step-wise manner and in sequence onto an 80- position punched card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for registering upon punched cards, tasks which are designated in a line-wise manner, for purposes of data processing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a card punching machine or arrangement which operates on a line-wise basis, and is actuated through the output pulses from a tape punch connected to a typewriter.

A still further object of the invention is an arrangement of the preceding objects wherein a typewriter is connected between the tape reader and the tape punch for typing the read out of the tape reader.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a coding arrangement through which the output pulse signals of a tape reader or a tape punch are applied preferably to an electronic pulse counting device. A selector position arrangement is situated between the output positions of the counter and the card punch which operates in a line blockwise manner. This selective position arrangement determines the positions of the hole punches in accordance with the information or data which is to be entered in a line of the card puncher, as taken from a punched tape.

In this arrangement, the carriage return pulse actuates simultaneously the line block stamping or punching of the card puncher. In this manner, the cards which are punched in a line-wise manner, are advanced by one step, and the pulse counting arrangement is returned to its initial state.

It is further of advantage to provide for automatic interconnection for further transmission of the pulse signals to the pulse counting device or circuitry when predetermined symbols occur as, for example, carriage shift symbols from lower case to upper case, or from upper case to lower case.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the condition that the pulse counter being used is in the form of a unit capable of counting in the forward and reverse or backward directions. When a predetermined symbol prevails, the counter, for example, will count in the backward orreverse direction.

A particular advantageous arrangement is realized when a programmable plug board is used in conjunction with the selective arrangement for the counter outputs to be applied to the hole punching positions of the line puncher. In this manner, any program is easily altered. A modification in a program may thus be easily realized through a simple change in the interconnections of the plug board, or through an interchange of pre-programmed boards serving as positiondirecting arrangements. 7

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a printed form and FIG. la is a section of a punched tape containing the information of the printed form in punched hole coded format, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a punched card containing information through punched hole format;

FIG. 3 is a block schematic and shows the arrangement for reading and decoding the information contained on punched p FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram and shows the detailed circuitry for carrying out the functions of the arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a hole punching device used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional schematic diagram of an automatic reproducing arrangement in accordance with the components of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an electronic pulse counter for use in conjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram and shows the detailed elements of the counter of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an electrical circuit diagram of the decoding arrangement used in conjunction with the counter of FIGS. 7 and 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1 and FIG. M, an 8 channel punched tape 2 is programmed to contain the information of a printed form 1. The tape 2 has holes 4 for purposes of transporting the tape longitudinally, and has also holes 5 for purposes of recording information on the tape. The holes 5 are arranged in rows 6 transverse to the transporting direction of the tape. The holes within any one marking row 6, embody a specific symbol or piece of information. The punched holes 5 correspond to the numerals and characters appearing in line 7 of the printed form 1. Thus, the punched holes 5 correspond to the vacant spaces, between the numerals and alphabetical characters, upper and lower case information, as well as the symbol for the diameter. On line 8 beneath the programmed tape is an illustration of the entire program of the line 7, with the symbols for operating a typewriter. Thus, the program as shown on line 8, provides for the various characters and symbols which are possible with the common keyboard of a typewriter. The program includes those steps which are required to produce the symbol for the diameter of the circular steel. This symbol is, for example, formed by typing a capital or upper case 0, backspacing, and typing a slant. The designations LU and UL are used to transfer the typewriter from lower case to upper case, and from upper case to lower case, respectively. The designation Ba is used to indicate a backspacing, whereas the designation CR is used to indicate the carriage return of a typewriter. The use and application of these symbols in conjunction with the punched tape 2, is further illustrated in the description of FIGS. 3 and 4.

A recording medium 3 in the form of a card which may be dimensioned to a standard DIN A 4 format, is shown in FIG. 2. The numerical values of the punched tape 2 or the printed form 1 are to be punched into this card. The numerical subdivisions 14 from head 1 to 32 implies that the horizontal spaced field 15 beyond each numerical subdivision 14, contains the value or information of the respective head, as well as the information and numerical values for this corresponding line. In the illustrated embodiment, a numerical subdivision 16 of 20 positions is provided for each line. Each of the 20 positions may have numerical values within the range of 0 to 9. A four digit code is applied to these positions, so that the values of the individual positions become formed through the arrangement of the information 17 which is, for example, in the form of punched holes within the position complex. Transporting holes 19 are provided for transporting the card stock 3 in line-wise direction.

FIG. 3 illustrates in block form the arrangement for evaluating the punched tape 2 and for applying the symbols and characters derived from the tape 2, to a punching arrangement 20, in which the recording card or punched card 3 is to be produced. With the actuation of the pushbutton 21, the switch 22 becomes closed, and the punched tape reader 25 commences to read and evaluate the information on the punched tape 2. In the reading and sensing of the information on the tape 2, one or more contacts 26 of the punched tape reader 25 becomes closed, corresponding directly to the sensed or sampled symbol on the punched tape 2. The contacts 26 of the tape reader 25 are shown in FIG. 4 which is a detailed circuit diagram of the block schematic of FIG. 3. Upon closure of the respective contacts 26 within the tape reader 25, the signals resulting from these contact closures, are applied to a decoder 27. The latter is constructed of gates 28,29 and 30 shown in FIG. 4. Since only numerical values are to be recorded upon the card 3, only such numerical values are transmitted to the coder 32 consisting of the gates 31 in FIG. 4. The alphabetical characters of the information become suppressed in the gates 30. Depending upon the value of the numerical quantities, one or more of the gates 3] become conducting, and the respective amplifier 33 applies a voltage signal to the corresponding electromagnet 102. Each signal resulting from a sensed or sampled symbol on the punched tape 2, becomes transmitted through the gate 34, and is applied to a counter 24 by way of the gate 35. This signal is, furthermore, applied to a flip-flop 37 constructed of gates 36. With the application of this signal to the counter 24, the latter executes an advancing step or position in its digital information. Thus, for each symbol of information read from the tape 2, a single signal is transmitted through the gate 34. The counter 24 is a conventional electronic unit capable of being actuated in the forward and reverse directions. The functional operation of this counter is further described in relation to FIGS. 7 to 9. The counter 24 can also be constructed of a mechanical unit with the capability of counting in an increasing and decreasing manner. At the same time, this counter 24 may also be in the form of a rotary selector. Through the preceding pulse signal applied to the counter 24, the thyristor 38 is transferred to the conducting state. This thyristor corresponds to the first position of the punching unit 20 for producing-the punched card stock 3. With the thyristor 38 conducting, the electromagnets 102 become energized, corresponding to the particular value sensed by the tape reader for the first position. As a result of the programming plug board 39, in FIG. 3, the second position of the counter 24 is connected with the second position of the punching unit 20. The electromagnets 102 corresponding to this second position become energized, in accordance with the proper information, through the thyristor 40.

The diodes 41 suppress the induced voltages appearing across the electromagnets 102 when disconnecting or switching off the circuits to these magnets. The diodes 42 are associated with all of the individual positions of the punching unit 20, and hence the respective electromagnets 102. The diodes 42 provide, thereby, the feature that when the thyristor 38 conducts, only the electromagnets 102 corresponding to the first position become energized. The sensed or read value from the tape 2 is, therefore, fed to all positions of the punching unit 20. However, through the action of the counter 24 in conjunction with the programming plug board 39, the controlling pulse is transmitted only to one position of the punching unit 20, so that only that one position of the punching unit is effective.

To record the symbol of a diameter, the following operational steps are required:

A first sensed symbol operates on the circuitry for the purpose of transferring the typewriter from lower case condition or setting to upper case condition. This symbol becomes decoded in the conventional manner, and is applied to the gate 35 through the conducting path designated with the reference numeral 43. The gate 35 becomes thereby cutoff,

and the pulse signal arriving from the gate 34 becomes, thereby, suppressed so that it does not become further transmitted to the counter 24. Through the second symbol, an upper case 0 is written, and the counter 24 is advanced one step or digit in the aforementioned manner. The next symbol leads'to a backspacing of the typewriter carriage, and after being decoded, the symbol is applied to the flip-flop 37, by way of the connecting path 44. As a result, the gate 45 is transferred to the state whereby the counter 24 counts a step backwards when receiving a pulse from the gate 34, and being in an operative state. With the subsequent symbol, the slant of the diameter symbol becomes written, and the counter 24 becomes again actuated by one unit or position in the forward direction, in the manner described above. With the adjacent symbol, the typewriter becomes again transferred to the lower case state or position, and the gate 35 becomes cutoff through the connecting path 43. As a result, the counter 24 cannot be further advanced. If the symbol CR denoted for carriage return in FIG. 1 becomes sensed or detected, the counter 24 becomes reset to its initial state, by way of the connecting path 156. Furthermore, through the connection 157, the coupling, not shown, for the arrangement of FIG. 5 becomes actuated, whereby the line block of the punching unit 20 becomes actuated and the card stock 3 becomes transported or advanced by one line. I

The punching unit 20 is schematically represented in FIG. 5-. In this arrangement, 40 control segments 101 are arranged behind each other, and an electromagnet 102 is provided for each control segment 101. Each of two control segments 101 displaced from each other and lying opposite to each other operate cooperatively together and are arranged to cor respond to one marking field 15 in FIG. 2. When two of the electromagnets 102 become energized as a result of corresponding symbols or characters written by the typewriter, for example, the corresponding control segments 101 become released through the attracting annatures of the electromagnets. As a result of the action of the springs 104 secured at the ends 103, these released control segments. 101 rotate about axes 105. Through this motion of the control segments, intermediate stamping or punching rods 106 which are linked to the segments 101, become moved beneath the stamping plate 107 to the extent that the control segments 101 abut the axles 109 of the re-setting lever 108. After setting of all of the required control segments 101, the shaft 110 becomes actuated through a coupling, not shown. A connecting rod 111 is pivotably secured at the point 1 12 to a gear 113 which rotates in the direction denoted by the arrow E. At the end of the rod 1 11, opposite to the pivot l 12, is a pin 114 which slides within an elongated opening 115. With the gear 113 rotating in the direction shown, the stamping plate 107 is moved vertically and onto the intermediate rods 106. The intermediate stamping rods 106 are guided by guide tracks 116 and are supported upon the intermediate stamping plate 1 17. These intennediate stamping rods 106 press the intermediate stamping plate 117 upon the hole punch or stamper l 18. As a result of this action, the hole punch 118 becomes pressed through the guide plate 120, and against the action of the spring 1 19. The hole punch 1 18 is thus forced into the cutting plate 121, whereby the card stock 3 becomes punched. After the punching process, the cam 122 which is secured to the shaft 110, rotates against rollers 124 at the ends of the re-setting levers 108 which are pivotably mounted about axes 123. With the high portion of the cam 122 bearing against the rollers 124, the re-setting levers 108 become rotated in the direction designated by the arrow F. The rotation of the re-setting lever 108 about the axes 123, is against the action of springs 126 which are fixed at ends 125. The re-setting levers 108, thereby, press or force the control segments 101 back to their initial positions, through the pins or axles 109 at the ends of the levers. The gear 113 is in mesh with a gear 128 mounted upon a shaft 127. A transporting wheel or rotary member 128 is also mounted upon a shaft 127. A transporting wheel or rotary member 128 is also mounted upon this shaft 127. After the punching process has been concluded, this shaft 127 becomes rotated in the direction denoted by the arrow G, as a result of the rotation of the gear 129 in mesh with the gear 1 13. As a result of this rotation of the transporting wheel 128, the punched card 3 is advanced by one line step. In particular, the gear 113 is constructed in the form of a gear tooth segment. For purposes of achieving a precise centering condition, the ratchet or blocking wheel 130 cooperates, in the conventional manner, with the centering bolts 131, the spring 132 and the receptacle 133. A clearing punch 135 is guidably movable within a guiding track 134. This clearing stamp or punch 135 is brought against the control segments 101 when an incorrect value or error has been inserted. Thus, when such an error is introduced into the machine, the clearing punch 135 is brought against the corresponding control segments 101. By briefly depressing the clearing punch 135 against the action of the spring 136, the control segments101 are returned to their initial states, shown in FIG. 5. In this manner, these control segments can then be actuated to a new setting.

In FIG. 6, an automatic transcribing system comprises a tape reader 25, a typewriter 150, and a tape punch'151, The symbols read from the tape 2 by the tape reader 25 are applied to a decoder 152, which latter decodes the signals and instructs the typewriter 150 to type the designated symbols upon the printed form 1a. The typed symbols are coded by the coder 153, which conducts the resulting signals to a tape punch 151. This punch punches holes in the tape 2a corresponding to the typed characters. The counter 24, decoder 27, programmer 39, coder 32, and the punch unit for punching the card 3 all correspond to the pulse circuitry illustrated in detail in FIG. 4. All of these elements, which are shown in detail in FIG. 4, are contained within the dot-dash line 154. In FIG. 3, the pulse signals are generated by the contacts 26 of the tape reader 25. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, on the other hand, the corresponding pulse signals are generated by the typewriter 150 and conducted to the tape punch 151. The pulse signals from the typewriter 150 are taken from the tape punch 151 and are conducted directly to the decoder 27.

The block diagram of the counter 24, which latter is used in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 6, and which can count forward or backward, is shown in FIG. 7. This counter consists of several stages connected in series to form a synchronized counter based upon the principle of propagating signals between stages, in series. The control for the counter is described in connection with FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, the blocks which are functionally described in FIG. 7, are shown in greater detail for the counter 24. The counter operates on the basis of the 8-4-2-1 code, and when counting forward is in the state shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8. If, now, a pulse is applied to the input of the flip-flop FFA, the latter changes states, and the counter indicates a l. The outputs of the flip-flop FFA are connected to the gates 201 and 202, which are wired AND gates with outputs connected to the flip-flop FFB. Since a 0 is at the inputs J and K of each of the flip-flops FGB, FFC and FFD, the states of these flip-flops remain unchanged. Because the flip-flop FFA has changed states, the flip-flop FFB is ready for the next pulse. The next pulse triggers the flip-flop FFA back to its initial state,and the flip-flop FFB changes states so that the counter indicates the count of 2. The gates 203 to 230 are used to trigger the counter in the later counting stages. These later stages are not described. The transmission of a signal to the next decade stage, denoted in the block diagram of of FIG. 7 as the second decimal stage, results only when a zero signal appears at the output of the gate 214. This zero signal clears the flip-flop FFA of the decade in question. When the carriage return contact CR conducts a pulse to the flip-flops FFA, FFB, FFC and FFD of all the decades, the counter is in the state for counting forward, shown in FIG. 8. The required state of the counter for counting backward is not shown, since the arrangement is conventional.

The decoding circuit for the counter 24 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The decoder consists of ten gates 231 to 240. The decoded numeral or digit is indicated by a zero signal at the outputs d to d In this regard, it is essential that the inputs of the decoding circuit (A, A, B, Eetc.) are connected to the outputs of the flip-flops (A, A, B,, etc.).

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in card punching machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended I claim:

1. A card punching arrangement comprising, in combination, hole punching means for selectively punching holes through card means; signal means for providing signals corresponding to information contained in punched tape means, said information to be stored along a line of said card means through punched holes in said card means; code modifying means connected to said signal means and receiving said signals from said signal means in predetermined coded form, said code modifying means translating said predetennined code from said signal means into a translated code for storing said information along said line on said card means; counting means connected to said code modifying means; selecting means connected between the output of said counting means and said hole punching means for controlling said hole punching means to punch holes only at predetermined locations along said line of said card means; and typewriter means for typing said information in readable form, said typewriter being connected to the output of said signal means.

2. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said typewriter means comprises signal producing means for producing electrical signals that correspond to the typed characters, and further including first coding means the input of which is connected to receive said electrical signals from said typewriter means; and tape punch means connected to the output of said first coding means for punching a tape in accordance with the typed characters.

3. The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said signal means is a tape reader.

4. The arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said counting means is an electronic digital counter for counting either forward or backward.

5. The arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said code modifying means is first decoding means connected between the output of said tape reader and the input of said typewriter means, and further including second decoding means connected to the output of said tape punch means; second coding means connected between said second decoding and said hole punching means, said second decoding means and said second coding means routing said electrical signals, produced by said typewriter means, and as received from said tape punch means, to said hole punching means to cause the latter to punch.

6. The arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said selecting means is a programmer.

7. The arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said programmer comprises means for changing the selection of said predetermined locations.

8. The arrangement as defined in claim 5, further including a reset connection between said tape reader and said digital counter for resetting the latter whenever said tape reader reads a carriage return symbol.

9. The arrangement as defined in claim 5, further including means for advancing said card means by one said line of said card means when said tape reader reads a carriage return symbol. 

1. A card punching arrangement comprising, in combination, hole punching means for selectively punching holes through card means; signal means for providing signals corresponding to information contained in punched tape means, said information to be stored along a line of said card means through punched holes in said card means; code modifying means connected to said signal means and receiving said signals from said signal means in predetermined coded form, said code modifying means translating said predetermined code from said signal means into a translated code for storing said information along said line on said card means; counting means connected to said code modifying means; selecting means connected between the output of said counting means and said hole punching means for controlling said hole punching means to punch holes only at predetermined locations along said line of said card means; and typewriter means for typing said information in readable form, said typewriter beiNg connected to the output of said signal means.
 2. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said typewriter means comprises signal producing means for producing electrical signals that correspond to the typed characters, and further including first coding means the input of which is connected to receive said electrical signals from said typewriter means; and tape punch means connected to the output of said first coding means for punching a tape in accordance with the typed characters.
 3. The arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said signal means is a tape reader.
 4. The arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said counting means is an electronic digital counter for counting either forward or backward.
 5. The arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said code modifying means is first decoding means connected between the output of said tape reader and the input of said typewriter means, and further including second decoding means connected to the output of said tape punch means; second coding means connected between said second decoding and said hole punching means, said second decoding means and said second coding means routing said electrical signals, produced by said typewriter means, and as received from said tape punch means, to said hole punching means to cause the latter to punch.
 6. The arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said selecting means is a programmer.
 7. The arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said programmer comprises means for changing the selection of said predetermined locations.
 8. The arrangement as defined in claim 5, further including a reset connection between said tape reader and said digital counter for resetting the latter whenever said tape reader reads a carriage return symbol.
 9. The arrangement as defined in claim 5, further including means for advancing said card means by one said line of said card means when said tape reader reads a carriage return symbol. 